Former Napoli captain Marek Hamsik admits he'd have loved to have played for Rino Gattuso.

Gattuso has just led Napoli to Coppa Italia glory this week.

Hamsik, now with Dalian Professional, told Il Mattino: “There's a compactness that those who play football perceive instantly.

“The solidity seen on the field is clearly the result of their desire to fight together for an objective.

“Playing against them isn't easy. I see them as a team who follow Gattuso in everything, who respond to his demands, who play a game that is an expression of their coach's ideas.

“Above all, he's a serious person who says things as they are. They're the reasons why I think I could've been wonderful in that team.

“They had some problems when Gattuso arrived, they struggled to find the right step, but [Stanislav] Lobotka told me why: training was very hard and the first few weeks were very difficult for them, but no-one pulled back.

“It took time for the results to be seen, but they seem very fit to me and therefore it makes sense that they're reaping the benefits now."